In today’s society, you can find a juice or smoothie for just about anything. Weird things like wheatgrass and kale can become some of your favorite flavors. I’m not sure who decided that they wanted to drink a beet, but they had the right idea. Over the years, doctors and healthcare specialists have agreed that it comes with a lot of good qualities. Here are five health benefits of drinking beet juice:
1. Good Nutritional Value
Beets and beet juice come with a multitude of essential vitamins and minerals. According to Public Health student Jamie Eske, beet juice is rich in folate (DNA and cell health), vitamin B-6 (metabolism and red blood cell production), calcium (bone growth and strength), iron (allows red blood cells to carry oxygen), magnesium (supports immune, heart, muscle, and nerve health), phosphorous (teeth, bone, and cell repair), copper (maintains bones and blood vessels, and supports immune function), and zinc (wound healing, and encourages normal growth). These work together with the chemical compounds found in the juice to build your body up.
2. Reduced Risk of Anemia
Because beet juice is so rich with iron, it can be used to prevent anemia. Eske says that people with an iron deficiency can develop anemia over time. Iron is such a crucial piece of the red blood cell because without it, the red blood cells cannot carry oxygen around the body. Symptoms of iron deficiency anemia include fatigue, dizziness, headaches and rapid heartbeat. Eske says if you notice any of these signs you might need to incorporate more iron into your diet—and beet juice is a great place to start.
3. Liver Protection
The liver is a significant part of the body. To help it function day-to-day, it’s important to fuel your body with healthy things. Healthline writer Annette McDermott says the antioxidant betaine found in beet juice can help reduce fatty deposits in the liver from poor diet, excessive alcohol consumption, etc. Eske says that in addition to that, the compounds in beet juice “help protect the liver from inflammation and oxidative stress while enhancing its ability to remove toxins from the body.”
4. Boost in Body Performance
“Beetroot juice has been shown to help the body respond better to exercise, by balancing oxygen use and increasing stamina,” says Dr. Oz. The minerals and antioxidant compounds work together to provide the body more energy throughout a workout or just throughout the day. According to Eske and Oz, nitrates improve blood flow throughout the body—including the brain, heart and muscles. Try an athletic activity after drinking beet juice and see if you can notice the difference.
5. Reduced Blood Pressure & Cholesterol
Those nitrates don’t just work to increase body performance. Dr. Oz and McDermott say that when nitrates transform into nitric oxide, blood vessels widen and relax to let more blood and oxygen to flow through. Once blood starts to flow properly through the passageways, blood pressure slowly lowers back to normal. In addition to blood pressure, McDermott says that beet juice can increase “good” cholesterol in the body.
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